Flail-mounting device

ABSTRACT

Means for individually mounting and dismounting flail cutting members from a rotor, wherein such means may include apertured positioners fixed to the rotor, rotatable blade holder rod contained within the positioners and having link-receiving portions, and link means connecting the flail cutting blades to the blade holder rod which link means may be so positioned relative to said rod as to permit individual blades or cutting members to be removed or attached.

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Inventor Anthony R. lEngler Houston, Tex. Appl. No. 819,003 Filed Apr.24, 1969 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Assignee Engler ManufacturingCorporation Houston, Tex.

FLAlllL-MOUNTING DEVICE 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 241/194, 56/294 Int. Cl ..B02c 18/18, AOld 55/22 Field of Search241/193,

1 a ,eu [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,460,279 2/1949Ehmann 241/194 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon AssistantExaminer-Gary L. Smith Atlorneys-Murray Robinson and Ned L. ConleyABSTRACT: Means for individually mounting and dismounting flail cuttingmembers from a rotor, wherein such means may include aperturedpositioners fixed to the rotor. rotatable blade holder rod containedwithin the positioners and having link-receiving portions, and linkmeans connecting the flail cutting blades to the blade holder rod whichlink means may be so positioned relative to said rod as to permitindividual blades or cutting members to be removed or attached.

PATENTEU SEP28 IHYI SHEET 2 [IF 2 ATTORNEY FLAllL-MOUNTING DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cutting devices of the flail type have longbeen used as mowers, harvesters, shredders or the like. Such devicesgenerally include a central rotatable member, or rotor, extendinggenerally parallel to the surface of the ground and transverse of thedirection of the motion of the cutting device. Attached to the rotor insome manner are a number of individual cutting members, which have beencalled blades, flails cutting heads or the like. These blades arenormally scattered or positioned on the rotor so as to overlap or toextend the cutting swath through substantially the entire rotor length.A particular problem that has been generated by the use of the largenumber of blades or flails on a rotor evolves around time necessary toassemble and/or disassemble the rotor and flails. Some priorarrangements have used individually positionable blades. More advanceddevices have utilized rows of blades and holders therefor. While thislatter feature represented a decided improvement in terms of operation,economy and effectiveness, the necessity of assembling or removing anentire horizontal row of flails or blades caused an excess of time to beexpended when a single flail or limited numbers thereof needed to beexamined or replaced, as for example when damaged during operation. Itwas to this combination of problems that this invention was directed,namely the ease and effectiveness of positioning rows or gangs ofindividual flails on a rotor, coupled with an advantageous manner of somounting the flails as to permit them to be individually replaced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end view, partly in section, ofthe assembled rotor;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of one of the blade holder rods;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the locking plate;

FIG. 4 is an axial section through the blade holder rod and positionerassembly, while in the operative position;

FIG. 5 is like FIG. 4, but in position for blade removal;

FIG. 6 is a sectionalized detail depicting the blade being affixed tothe blade holder rod; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric of the rod positioner and band.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Normally, in a mower or similarmachine using flails for cutting purposes, a rotatable shaft will bemounted in bearings borne by the mower housing. Such housing is notshown in the drawings, in that only the rotor is of consequence to thisinvention.

The rotor, indicated generally at 10, includes rotor shaft 11, whichwould extend transversely of the mower housing, and with its endsmounted in bearings (not shown) provided therein. Associated with therotor shaft are rotary drum 12 and end plates 13,, and 13,, positionednear opposite ends of shaft lll. Such end plates may be affixed to theshaft and concentric drum, so as to rotate as a unit, in any number ofconventional manners. For example, the shaft may be keyed to the endplates or welded thereto, while the drum may be welded to the end platesor linked thereto by intermediate annular discs. In any case arelatively unitary cylinder is formed (actually more spoollike inconfiguration) rotatable as a unit.

A plurality of blade holder rods, in this instance members 14,,, 14,,and M are rotatably linked to each of the end plates and pass justoutside the confines of drum 12. The means of attaching such rods to theend plates may include affixing, as by welding, such rod ends to anapertured portion of locking plate 15. Apertures would be provided inthe end plates for passage therethrough by such rods. Each of thelocking plates 15 may be releasably fixed to their respective end plate13 by virtue of pins or bolts, such as members 16, passing throughaligned apertures, with nuts 17 provided which may be loosened forpermitting such rotation. Thus, it will be understood that on removingconnectors 16, 17, the locking plates 13 may be individually pivotedabout their connection with their respective rods 14, thereby rotatingsuch rods as the 5 locking plates pivot.

Arcuately spaced about the exterior of drum l2, and affixed thereto soas to substantially encircle rods 14, are generally triangularlyconfigured positioners such as 13. There would be one of suchpositioners for each of such rods, and the positioners may extend forsubstantially the width of the drum. Spaced along the length of thepositioners are cutout portions 19, there being such a portion in thearea of each attached cutter blade, such cutout permitting communicationfrom its exterior to its hollow interior. Likewise, each of the bladeholder rods has spaced therealong a plurality of narrower, axiallyextended slots 20, therethrough. In the operative or cutting position ofFIG. 4, the slots through members 14 and 118 would not be aligned. Onproper rotation of rods 14, they may be so aligned.

Each cutting blade 30, or flail, may have a shank portion apertured at31, to receive a clasp 32. Such a clasp may have inwardly directed tips33 which define an opening therebetween. Encirclingly mounted about rods14, and partially extending through openings 19 in positioners 18 arebanklike links 3%. Tops 33 of clasps 32 are also positioned within suchlinks 34. Thus, cutter blades 30 may be positioned along the lengths ofrods 14, as desired by the flexible linking assemblies formed by thecooperating clasps 32 an links 34.

Now, as previously mentioned, in the cutting position, the apertures ofrods 14 and positioners 13 are not so aligned as to permit disengagementof the associate cutter blade and clasp. Assume now that it is desirableto remove an individual cutter blade assembly. Fastener members 116i, 17of the appropriate rod 14 may be removed. Locking plate 15 may then bepivoted (see the lowermost locking plate in FIG. 5) so as to rotate rod14,. and place its slotted portion in alignment with slot 19 ofpositioners 18. Link 34 may then be moved so as to permit alignment oftips 33 of clasp 32 with slots or apertures 19, 20. Thus, enough ofclasp 32 may enter within the interior of hollow rod 14 to permitremoval of clasp 32 from link 34, by virtue of the space intermediateclasp tips 33. Reinsertion of a cutter blade assembly would simply be areversal of the procedure described above, culminated by rotation oflocking plate 15 to a position wherein fasteners 16, 17 may be reaffixedso as to join such locking plate to end plate 13.

Although only a single embodiment has been described, it should beobvious that numerous modifications would be possible by one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope ofwhich is intended to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

LA flail-type cutting apparatus having a rotatable rotor portion, aplurality of cutting blades, and means for attaching such cutting bladesto said rotor, the improvement comprismg:

a rod rotatable with respect to said rotor;

60 means for linking said rod to individual ones of said cutting blades;means including a passageway through said rod for permitting release ofsaid linking means from said rod and a releasable pivot for rotatingsaid rod, said means permitting removal of individual ones of saidcutting blades when said rod is in a first position relative to saidrotor,

and said means barring such removal when said rod is in a furtherposition relative to said rotor.

2. A flail-type cutting apparatus having a rotatable rotor 70 portion, aplurality of cutting blades, and means for attaching said cutting bladesto said rotor, the improvement comprising:

a rod rotatable with respect to said rotor;

means for linking said rod to individual ones of said cutting blades,said linking means including a link encircling said rod, and a claspjoining a cutter blade to said link; and

means for permitting removal of individual ones of said cutting blades,said means including a rod positioning means joined to said rotor,alignable passageway means through said rod positioning means and saidrod for permitting release of said linking means from said rod, saidremoval means including two positions, a first position allowing theremoval of said cutting blades from said rotor and a second positionbarring such removal when said rod is in a further position relative tosaid rotor.

3. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising:

a flail loosely and removable mounted on a flexible linking assembly,

a rod movable from a releasing position to another position,

said linking assembly being mounted on said rod,

means for securing said rod from movement from said other position tosaid releasing position,

means on said rod preventing disassembly of said linking assembly whensaid rod is not in the releasing position, and

means on said rod allowing disassembly of said linking assembly whensaid rod is in the releasing position.

4. A flail-type cutting apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein saidlinking assembly comprises:

a link encircling said rod, and

a clasp linked in said link, said clasp having a gap therein throughwhich the link will pass upon rotation of said clasp, wherein the meanson said rod comprise means to prevent rotation of said clasp when therod is not in the releasing position and to allow rotation of said claspwhen the rod is in the releasing position.

5. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising:

a flail loosely and removably mounted on a flexible linking assembly,

a rod rotatable from a releasing position to another position,

said linking assembly being mounted on said rod,

means for securing said rod against rotation from said other position tosaid releasing position,

means on said rod preventing disassembly of said linking assembly whensaid rod is not in the releasing position, and

means on said rod allowing disassembly of said linking assembly whensaid rod is in the releasing position.

6. A flail-type cutting apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein saidlinking assembly comprises:

a link encircling said rod, and

a clasp linked in said link, said clasp having a gap therein throughwhich the link will pass upon rotation of said clasp, wherein the meanson said rod comprise means to prevent rotation of said clasp when therod is not in the releasing position and to allow rotation of said claspwhen the rod is in the releasing position.

7. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising:

a rotatable rotor portion,

a rod rotatable with respect to said rotor portion,

a link assembly connecting said rod with said flail,

means for rotating said rod to a releasing position and to anotherposition, and

means for disassembly of said link assembly, said means disposed on saidrotor portion, said means allowing disassembly when said rod is rotatedto the releasing position, and said means barring such disassembly whensaid rod is rotated to another position. t

8. A flail-type cutting apparatus characterized in claim 7 wherein saidmeans for disassembly of said link assembly comprise:

means forming a passageway affixed to said rotor portion,

said means having a slot, and

said rod passing trough said passageway, having a recess alignable withsaid slot.

9. A flail-type cutting apparatus characterized in claim 8 wherein saidreleasing position includes the alignment of the recess and the slot.

10. A flail-type cutting apparatus characterized in claim 8 wherein saidlink assembly includes:

a link connected to said rod, having such dimensions as to be looselyreceived within the slot,

a clasp having a side whose length is at least equal to the width of thelink, said side including a gap intermediate its ends, and said sideterminating in corners which are dimensioned so that they will not passbetween the link and the rod when the recess and slot are not aligned,but will pass therebetween when the recess and the slot are aligned.

1 l. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising:

a rotatable drum,

means forming a passageway affixed to said drum, said means having aslot,

a rod passing through said passageway, having a recess alignable withthe slot, said rod adapted to be rotated to a releasing position and toanother position,

a linking assembly loosely received within the slot, engaged with saidrod, having a portion movable within said slot and recess when the rodis in the releasing position, and prevented from moving within the slotand recess when the rod is in another position thereby barringdisengagement, and

a flail attached to said linking assembly.

12. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising:

a drum rotatably mounted on a shaft positioned through its center,

a positioner affixed to the external surface of said drum forming apassageway extending longitudinally of the drum, said positioner havinga slot,

. a rod through the passageway, said rod having a recess alignable withsaid axial slot,

means for rotating the rod to align the recess and the axial slot,

a link loosely received within the slot and circumscribing said rod,

a clasp having a side with a gap therein, whereby the clasp and the linkare secured when the slot and the recess are misaligned and arereleasable when the slot and the recess are aligned, and

a flail attached to said clasp.

13. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising: 7

a spoollike drum rotatably mounted on a shaft positioned through itscenter,

a positioner affixed to the external surface of said drum forming apassageway extending longitudinally of the drum, having an axial slotand a radial slot perpendicularly intersecting said axial slot,

a rod through the passageway, having a recess alignable with said axialslot,

means for rotating the rod to align the recess and the axial slot,

a link loosely received within the radial slot, circumscribing the rod,havinga limited rotation around the rod and within the radial slot,

a clasp linked in the link having a side with a gap therein whereby theclasp and link are secured together either when the link and axial slotare not coaxial or the axial slot and the recess are misaligned, andwhereby the clasp and link are releaseable when the link and axial slotare coaxial and the axial slot and recess are aligned, and a flailattached to said clasp.

14. A flail-type cutting apparatus characterized by claim 13 whereinsaid radial slot in said positioner is disposed on the outermost surfaceof the positioner from the axis of the drum.

15. In a flail-type cutting apparatus comprising a rotary drum includinga first circular end plate affixed to on end of a cylinder, and a secondcircular end plate affixed to the other end of the cylinder, bothcircular end plates having an equal diameter larger than the diameter ofthe cylinder, and a shaft extending axially through the drum, androtatably mounted in bearings borne by the housing of the cuttingapparatus,

the improvement comprising:

an eidiigated dsitidtiei with a V-sim ed cross sectidii extendinglongitudinally of the drum from one end plate to the other, and havingits longitudinal edges affixed to the external surface of the drum toform a generally triangular passageway therethrough, said positionerhaving axially extending slots spaced along the length of saidpositioner, and said positioner having a radial slot perpendicularlyintersecting each axially extending slot, said radial slot beingdisposed on the outermost surface of said positioner from the axis ofsaid drum,

a rod passing through the triangular passageway formed by the positionerand drum, and rotatably mounted in the end plates, said rod havingrecesses spaced along its length which are alignable with the axiallyextending slots of the positioner,

a locking plate disposed on the external surface of one end plate andattached to the protruding end of the rod, said locking plate beingadapted upon rotation thereof to rotate the rod to a releasing positionwhereby the axially extending slots of the positioner and the recessesof the rod are in alignment, and to another position whereby the axiallyextending slots of the positioner do not align with the recesses of therod,

a triangularly shaped link encircling said rod, and with such dimensionsso as to be loosely received within a radial slot of the positioner,

A clasp including a triangularly shaped rod having a side whose lengthis at least equal to the width of said link, said side iiiciudiiig a gapintermediate its eiids, said side letminating in corners which aredimensional so that they will not pass between said link and said rodwhen the axial slot and recess are not aligned, but will passtherebetween when the recess and axial slot are aligned, said gap havinga greater width than the thickness of said link whereby the link canslide through the gap thereby attaching the link to the clasp,

said link having such inner dimensions as to encircle both said rod andone side of said clasp,

a flail having a shank with an aperture therein of larger diameter thanthe diameter of the rod of the clasp, and a thickness smaller than thegap in the clasp such that the shank of the flail will slide into thegap of the clasp and the rod of the clasp can then be threaded throughthe aperture thereby attaching the flail to the clasp, whereby therotation of the locking plate to the releasing position and the rotationof the link within the radial slot to a position where the link andaxial slot are coaxial, allows the clasp to be rotated into the alignedslot formed by the axial slot and recess thereby allowing disassembly ofthe clasp from the link, and whereby the rotation of the locking plateto another position or the rotation of the link such that the link andaxial slot are not coaxial, prevents the rotation of the clasp therebysecuring the clasp to the link and resulting in the attachment of theflail to the cutting apparatus.

1. A flail-type cutting apparatus having a rotatable rotor portion, aplurality of cutting blades, and means for attaching such cutting bladesto said rotor, the improvement comprising: a rod rotatable with respectto said rotor; means for linking said rod to individual ones of saidCutting blades; means including a passageway through said rod forpermitting release of said linking means from said rod and a releasablepivot for rotating said rod, said means permitting removal of individualones of said cutting blades when said rod is in a first positionrelative to said rotor, and said means barring such removal when saidrod is in a further position relative to said rotor.
 2. A flail-typecutting apparatus having a rotatable rotor portion, a plurality ofcutting blades, and means for attaching said cutting blades to saidrotor, the improvement comprising: a rod rotatable with respect to saidrotor; means for linking said rod to individual ones of said cuttingblades, said linking means including a link encircling said rod, and aclasp joining a cutter blade to said link; and means for permittingremoval of individual ones of said cutting blades, said means includinga rod positioning means joined to said rotor, alignable passageway meansthrough said rod positioning means and said rod for permitting releaseof said linking means from said rod, said removal means including twopositions, a first position allowing the removal of said cutting bladesfrom said rotor and a second position barring such removal when said rodis in a further position relative to said rotor.
 3. A flail-type cuttingapparatus comprising: a flail loosely and removably mounted on aflexible linking assembly, a rod movable from a releasing position toanother position, said linking assembly being mounted on said rod, meansfor securing said rod from movement from said other position to saidreleasing position, means on said rod preventing disassembly of saidlinking assembly when said rod is not in the releasing position, andmeans on said rod allowing disassembly of said linking assembly whensaid rod is in the releasing position.
 4. A flail-type cutting apparatusas defined by claim 3 wherein said linking assembly comprises: a linkencircling said rod, and a clasp linked in said link, said clasp havinga gap therein through which the link will pass upon rotation of saidclasp, wherein the means on said rod comprise means to prevent rotationof said clasp when the rod is not in the releasing position and to allowrotation of said clasp when the rod is in the releasing position.
 5. Aflail-type cutting apparatus comprising: a flail loosely and removablymounted on a flexible linking assembly, a rod rotatable from a releasingposition to another position, said linking assembly being mounted onsaid rod, means for securing said rod against rotation from said otherposition to said releasing position, means on said rod preventingdisassembly of said linking assembly when said rod is not in thereleasing position, and means on said rod allowing disassembly of saidlinking assembly when said rod is in the releasing position.
 6. Aflail-type cutting apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said linkingassembly comprises: a link encircling said rod, and a clasp linked insaid link, said clasp having a gap therein through which the link willpass upon rotation of said clasp, wherein the means on said rod comprisemeans to prevent rotation of said clasp when the rod is not in thereleasing position and to allow rotation of said clasp when the rod isin the releasing position.
 7. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising:a rotatable rotor portion, a rod rotatable with respect to said rotorportion, a flail, a link assembly connecting said rod with said flail,means for rotating said rod to a releasing position and to anotherposition, and means for disassembly of said link assembly, said meansdisposed on said rotor portion, said means allowing disassembly whensaid rod is rotated to the releasing position, and said means barringsuch disassembly when said rod is rotated to another position.
 8. Aflail-type cutting apparatus characterized iN claim 7 wherein said meansfor disassembly of said link assembly comprise: means forming apassageway affixed to said rotor portion, said means having a slot, andsaid rod passing through said passageway, having a recess alignable withsaid slot.
 9. A flail-type cutting apparatus characterized in claim 8wherein said releasing position includes the alignment of the recess andthe slot.
 10. A flail-type cutting apparatus characterized in claim 8wherein said link assembly includes: a link connected to said rod,having such dimensions as to be loosely received within the slot, aclasp having a side whose length is at least equal to the width of thelink, said side including a gap intermediate its ends, and said sideterminating in corners which are dimensioned so that they will not passbetween the link and the rod when the recess and slot are not aligned,but will pass therebetween when the recess and the slot are aligned. 11.A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising: a rotatable drum, meansforming a passageway affixed to said drum, said means having a slot, arod passing through said passageway, having a recess alignable with theslot, said rod adapted to be rotated to a releasing position and toanother position, a linking assembly loosely received within the slot,engaged with said rod, having a portion movable within said slot andrecess when the rod is in the releasing position, and prevented frommoving within the slot and recess when the rod is in another positionthereby barring disengagement, and a flail attached to said linkingassembly.
 12. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising: a drumrotatably mounted on a shaft positioned through its center, a positioneraffixed to the external surface of said drum forming a passagewayextending longitudinally of the drum, said positioner having a slot, arod through the passageway, said rod having a recess alignable with saidaxial slot, means for rotating the rod to align the recess and the axialslot, a link loosely received within the slot and circumscribing saidrod, a clasp having a side with a gap therein, whereby the clasp and thelink are secured when the slot and the recess are misaligned and arereleasable when the slot and the recess are aligned, and a flailattached to said clasp.
 13. A flail-type cutting apparatus comprising: aspoollike drum rotatably mounted on a shaft positioned through itscenter, a positioner affixed to the external surface of said drumforming a passageway extending longitudinally of the drum, having anaxial slot and a radial slot perpendicularly intersecting said axialslot, a rod through the passageway, having a recess alignable with saidaxial slot, means for rotating the rod to align the recess and the axialslot, a link loosely received within the radial slot, circumscribing therod, having a limited rotation around the rod and within the radialslot, a clasp linked in the link having a side with a gap thereinwhereby the clasp and link are secured together either when the link andaxial slot are not coaxial or the axial slot and the recess aremisaligned, and whereby the clasp and link are releaseable when the linkand axial slot are coaxial and the axial slot and recess are aligned,and flail attached to said clasp.
 14. A flail-type cutting apparatuscharacterized by claim 13 wherein said radial slot in said positioner isdisposed on the outermost surface of the positioner from the axis of thedrum.
 15. In a flail-type cutting apparatus comprising a rotary drumincluding a first circular end plate affixed to one end of a cylinder,and a second circular end plate affixed to the other end of thecylinder, both circular end plates having an equal diameter larger thanthe diameter of the cylinder, and a shaft extending axially through thedrum, and rotatably mounted in bearings borne by the housing of thecutting apparatus, the Improvement comprising: an elongated positionerwith a V-shaped cross section extending longitudinally of the drum fromone end plate to the other, and having its longitudinal edges affixed tothe external surface of the drum to form a generally triangularpassageway therethrough, said positioner having axially extending slotsspaced along the length of said positioner, and said positioner having aradial slot perpendicularly intersecting each axially extending slot,said radial slot being disposed on the outermost surface of saidpositioner from the axis of said drum, a rod passing through thetriangular passageway formed by the positioner and drum, and rotatablymounted in the end plates, said rod having recesses spaced along itslength which are alignable with the axially extending slots of thepositioner, a locking plate disposed on the external surface of one endplate and attached to the protruding end of the rod, said locking platebeing adapted upon rotation thereof to rotate the rod to a releasingposition whereby the axially extending slots of the positioner and therecesses of the rod are in alignment, and to another position wherebythe axially extending slots of the positioner do not align with therecesses of the rod, a triangularly shaped link encircling said rod, andwith such dimensions so as to be loosely received within a radial slotof the positioner, a clasp including a triangularly shaped rod having aside whose length is at least equal to the width of said link, said sideincluding a gap intermediate its ends, said side terminating in cornerswhich are dimensional so that they will not pass between said link andsaid rod when the axial slot and recess are not aligned, but will passtherebetween when the recess and axial slot are aligned, said gap havinga greater width than the thickness of said link whereby the link canslide through the gap thereby attaching the link to the clasp, said linkhaving such inner dimensions as to encircle both said rod and one sideof said clasp, a flail having a shank with an aperture therein of largerdiameter than the diameter of the rod of the clasp, and a thicknesssmaller than the gap in the clasp such that the shank of the flail willslide into the gap of the clasp and the rod of the clasp can then bethreaded through the aperture thereby attaching the flail to the clasp,whereby the rotation of the locking plate to the releasing position andthe rotation of the link within the radial slot to a position where thelink and axial slot are coaxial, allows the clasp to be rotated into thealigned slot formed by the axial slot and recess thereby allowingdisassembly of the clasp from the link, and whereby the rotation of thelocking plate to another position or the rotation of the link such thatthe link and axial slot are not coaxial, prevents the rotation of theclasp thereby securing the clasp to the link and resulting in theattachment of the flail to the cutting apparatus.